Three men standing in a room, smiling, with a small engine on a table in front of them. All three are wearing black or dark-colored shirts with the logo 'Beacon Forensic' on them.

Engineering Truth.
Highlighting the Cause.

“At Beacon Forensic, we don’t guess. We investigate, we analyze, and we bring light to the facts.”
— James Whelan

Our mission is simple: to determine the root cause of failures and Accidents and deliver clear, technically sound conclusions.

Beacon Forensic is a trusted provider of forensic engineering services, specializing in the investigation and analysis of trucking and vehicle accidents, mechanical system failures, product failures, and other complex technical matters.

With decades of combined experience across engineering disciplines, our licensed professionals deliver detailed, unbiased investigations rooted in science, not speculation. We apply rigorous methodologies to determine the facts and communicate them with clarity and precision.

EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS

  • Professional man in a business suit smiling, sitting against a plain background.

    James Whelan, P.E.

    Founder / Principal Engineer

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  • A man in a dark suit with a light-colored shirt and dark tie, standing with folded arms against a plain wall.

    Douglas Hacker, A.C.T.A.R., E.I.T.

    Accident Reconstructionist

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  • A portrait of a smiling man with a beard and brown hair, wearing a gray suit and a light blue tie, standing against a plain white wall.

    Mr. Joshua Crunk, M.S., P.E.

    Mechanical Engineer

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  • Portrait of a man with a white beard and wearing a grey suit, white shirt, and a orange tie, against a plain light-colored background.

    Mr. Gary Hayden, P.E.

    Mechanical Engineer

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  • Headshot of a man with short dark hair, wearing a suit and blue shirt, against a gray background.

    David Stobbe, Ph.D.,P.E.

    Principal Engineer

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  • Portrait of a man with light skin, short brown hair, and a beard. He is wearing a black suit and white shirt, smiling slightly, against a plain beige wall background.

    Jon Anderson

    Forensic Animator

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  • A man in a black suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, wearing glasses, smiling at the camera against a plain, light-colored background.

    Nicholas Biery, Ph.D., P.E.

    Materials Analyst

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  • A middle-aged man with light skin, a full beard, and styled gray hair, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and a patterned tie, posing against a white background.

    Torrey Roberts, P.E.

    Mechanical Engineer

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  • A smiling man with glasses, a beard, and a mustache, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and a striped tie, posed against a neutral background.

    Andy Nieto, CSP, CHST

    Safety Professional

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  • A man wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, smiling at the camera against a light gray background.

    Troy List, P.E.

    Mechanical Engineer

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What We Stand For

  • Objectivity – We serve as neutral third-party experts, focused solely on facts and engineering principles.

  • Integrity – Our work is rooted in transparency, professionalism, and ethical standards.

  • Clarity – We translate complex findings into clear, concise reports and expert testimony.

Who We Serve

  • Attorneys & Law Firms

  • Insurance Carriers & Claims Professionals

  • Manufacturers & Product Development Teams

  • Transportation & Commercial Fleet Operators

  • Industrial & Energy Companies

We primarily serve clients throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Illinois, with the ability to respond quickly to urgent investigations, while also supporting assignments nationwide and internationally.

REGISTERED STATES & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Engineering Licenses

California | Colorado | Florida | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Maryland | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | Nebraska | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Wisconsin​ | Washington, D.C. | West Virginia

Professional Associations

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

  • ASM International

  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  • American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

  • National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists (NAPARS)

  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

  • National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

Additional Licenses & Certifications

  • Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction

  • United States Patent and Trademark Office Registration

  • Certified Instructor for Powered Lift Trucks, OSHA

  • Hazardous Waste Operations, OSHA

  • Licensed Drone Pilot, FAA

Need Help with an Accident or Failure?

Our engineers and scientists determine what occurred, identify the root causes, and provide clear findings to guide next steps.